MOONSHINE FACTS | mysite (2024)

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What is a fun fact about moonshine? ›

During alcohol prohibition in the US, moonshine was nicknamed Mountain Dew. This common slang for mountain brewed moonshine eventually became the actual name of a lemon lime flavored soda bottled in Knoxville, TN in 1932. The soft drink was originally intended to be a chaser for whiskey.

The term moonshine has been around since the late 15th century. But, it was first used to refer to liquor in the 18th century in England. The American roots of the practice have their origins in frontier life in Pennsylvania. Also, other grain-producing states.

Moonshine is an alcoholic drink that is typically made from corn, sugar, and water. The corn is mashed, and then the sugar and water are added. This mixture is then boiled. The alcohol content of moonshine can be as high as 95%, which is significantly higher than the alcohol content of most other types of liquor.

Moonshine proof is determined by the alcohol content or concentration in the final product, typically measured using a hydrometer, which measures the specific gravity of the liquid. The higher the alcohol content, the higher the proof and the more the liquid will deviate from the specific gravity of water.

Moonshine is a term typically used to refer to illicitly distilled liquor. The word is derived from the notion of the liquor being made and distributed at night, under cover of darkness. Makers of moonshine are called moonshiners.

In English, moonshine is also known as mountain dew, choop, hooch (abbreviation of hoochinoo, name of a specific liquor, from Tlingit), homebrew, mulekick, shine, sneaky pete, white dog, white lightning, white/corn liquor, white/corn whiskey, pass around, firewater, and bootleg.

A major risk of drinking moonshine is methanol blindness. Detecting methanol upon the first step is impossible, and consuming more of it will simply get the person drunker. However, it's eventually metabolized as its toxic metabolite, formic acid, in the body, which can have an extremely harmful effect.

Moonshine has a longer shelf life than other simple spirits, lasting up to six months after opening. However, once a bottle of moonshine is opened, the shelf life is only 2-3 years. Does Moonshine with Fruit Go Bad? Moonshine that contains fruits does not go bad.

Methanol: The Toxic Side Of Moonshine

You may have heard stories about the dangers of moonshine, or any illegally distilled liquor. The real culprit of these true stories, however, is methanol. Methanol, or methyl alcohol, is a byproduct of the distilling process.

While moonshine can simply be a synonym for moonlight, it's often used as slang for bootleg (or illicit) whiskey, as well as a colorful way to say "nonsense." For example, you could say, "I listened to her speech, but I finally decided everything she said was nothing but moonshine." This "without substance" meaning is ...

Why was moonshine so illegal? ›

Federal Excise Tax

One reason that making your own hooch is illegal is that the federal government generally charges liquor producers $2.14 per 750 mL bottle of 80-proof liquor. Per gallon of 50% alcohol content liquor, the tax rounds out to about $13.50.

Scotch-Irish immigrants began to settle in Georgia in the 1780s, bringing with them the knowledge of how to distill fruits into alcoholic beverages. With that settlement, moonshine production began.

A major risk of drinking moonshine is methanol blindness. Detecting methanol upon the first step is impossible, and consuming more of it will simply get the person drunker. However, it's eventually metabolized as its toxic metabolite, formic acid, in the body, which can have an extremely harmful effect.